Devilla

Dragonflies and squirrels await at Devilla

The Scots Pine trees of Devilla make a perfect habitat for red squirrels: the forest is a real stronghold for these frisky animals in Lowland Scotland. After you’ve tried spotting them along the Red Squirrel Trail, you could try finding the four lochs, home to darting dragonflies and agile otters.

Look out too for relics of past times among the trees, such as an enigmatic stone monument where legend the Battle of Bordie Moor raged in 1038, and covenater’s met on the misty moors.

Our guide to Devilla will help you explore the network of forest roads and paths.

Harvesting works will start in the north west section of the forest from September 2017. Timber haulage is also ongoing throughout the forest. For your safety please obey all on site safety signage.

Life’s essentials

You’ll find places to eat and public toilets in Kincardine or Culross.

Walking trails

Red Squirrel Trail

Watch for squirrels scurrying through the lodgepole pine on this short trail round Bordie Loch and past the legendary Standard Stone.

Firm gravel surface throughout with some uneven sections. Generally flat with some short fairly steep slopes. Two wide sections of boardwalk.

The trail loops around a beautiful woodland loch, where you’ll find shaded picnic tables and well-placed benches. If you don’t spot the real thing along the way, look out for ‘squirrel shadows’ hidden in the trees that bring their shape and darting movements to life.

Cycling trails

Mountain biking trails

From a bad farm to a peaceful woodland

Devilla covers an historic landscape of farm and moorland whose place-names are rooted in Gaelic language and culture. Its own name means ‘bad farm’, referring to poor quality land some way north of the forest.

Many of the historic relics among the trees are evidence of long-forgotten lives and struggles. They include the poignant grave of three children who died from plague in 1645, and traces of a Second World War explosives research station.

Now it’s a productive forest as well as a peaceful place to walk, ride or cycle. Every season has its charms, and the leaflet guide to Devilla will give you an idea of what to look out for as well as clues to the mysteries hidden in the forest.

How to get here

Devilla is on the A985 between Dunfermline and Kincardine, and is well signposted from the road. The car park is at grid reference NS 964 870.

Using SatNav?

FK10 4AS is the nearest postcode.

Nearby places

Just 1 ½ miles (2.4 km) away, Balgownie is a little-known ancient woodland with some fine old oak trees. Gartmorn Forest, near Alloa, makes a great extension to a walk round scenic Gartmorn Dam. Trails at Blairadam will take you to soaring spruces, waterfalls and stories of a mining ghost. Why not visit the Royal Burgh of Culross, a picturesque village just two miles from Devilla.